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Lexus IS-F convertible spied testing: Autoweek TV

July 17, 2012

Also in this episode: Mazda teases the upcoming 6 sedan and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigates unintended-acceleration claims for the previous-generation Ford Escape and its Mazda Tribute platform mate.

TRANSCRIPT

-- The Lexus IS drops its top.

-- Mazda drops hints on the new 6.

-- And Ford fields complaints about the Escape SUV.

I'm Jake, here with a Wednesday edition of Autoweek TV. Let's get started.

--

A Lexus IS-F convertible was spotted this week by the intrepid spy photographers at Brenda Priddy & Co. These photos were shot on the Nürburgring while the mostly uncamouflaged Lexus was doing some high-speed testing.

We expect the convertible will get the same engine as in the hardtop, which is a 5.0-liter V8 that makes 416 hp.

It will employ a retractable hardtop, which pretty much ruins the lines. Luckily, that sweet exhaust note probably won't change.

--

Mazda released its third teaser video of the new 6 sedan yesterday. It features the Kodo design language that we saw on the Takeri concept from the Tokyo motor show. In fact, from what we've seen, it looks extremely similar.

We do know that it will use the company's 2.0-liter Skyactiv engine with a fuel-efficient transmission.

We'll see the whole car at the Paris show in October. The car is expected to go on sale in early 2013.

--

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is probing the just-ended Ford Escape and its platform mate, the Mazda Tribute, for unintended acceleration. In January, an Arizona woman died while driving one of the SUVs.

NHTSA has received 99 complaints about the Escape, including 13 for crashes and eight injuries. Some of the complaints allege that the problem is with the cruise control, while others think it's a problem with a throttle that fails to return to idle when the pedal is released.

We'll keep track of this story on autoweek.com as it develops.

--

That's the news for today.

If you didn't see it yet, we have a drive review of the new BMW X1 on the site, along with our coverage of everything else automotive.